We call our home View to Heaven, Vista al Cielo … Starting to plan 2025 for desired destinations and we accept globes!
House • Atenas Costa Rica
7 Guests
3 Bedrooms
4 Beds
4 Bathrooms
Wheelchair accessible
2 Car spaces
Primary home
Exchange types accepted
Simultaneous
Non-Simultaneous
Non-Reciprocal & Globe
Hospitality
Statistics
Listed May 2021
Views 8567
General overview
PLEASE NOTE: While we love children, but our home is not child friendly. We have steep drop offs around our property, and floor to ceiling windows on the front of the house and glass coffee tables. Our pool is designed also for adults. If your children are 12 and above and well behaved you may reach out via private message to discuss. Our neighborhood is comprised of mainly over 55 retired residents who prefer peace and quiet so no partying or loud guests.
Our three bedroom home is located in Atenas, a small, centrally located coffee growing town in Costa Rica. Our home is in a small, gated community of 28 homes. We are located five minutes from town by car and approximately 45 minutes to the nearest beach and a myriad of waterfalls. We retired here 13years ago and love our life here, but love to travel as well.
We live on a lot with an amazing view, but there is a bit of a steep road to arrive of less than 1/4 mile. No 4x4 required since the road is paved.
Costa Rica is a tiny country with many microclimates and not the greatest infrastructure as far as roads go.
There is very little variation in temperatures here. Our temps vary just a few degrees year round. We have two seasons, the rainy season and dry season. Temperatures at our home are typically in mid to upper 60’s at night and upper 70’s to mid 80’s during the day. October is our rainiest month and March is the driest and windiest…but that is not true of every part of Costa Rica. I personally love the months of April through December as everything is beautiful and green and no watering plants for me. We rarely have a full day of rain. Typically, the showers start in late afternoon around 3 pm and last a couple of hours or so. Because of our proximity to the equator, we have early sunrise and early nightfall so the sun is up by 6 am and dark by 6 pm. We recommend to our guests not to drive after nightfall due to potholes, not great roads in some places and fog sometimes in some areas.
IMPORTANT: Remember, we live adjacent to a nature reserve in a country with over 70,000 types of insects so communal living is part of life here. If you have a phobia about bugs, critters or such, our place is not for you. We have our house sprayed a couple times of year, but it’s impossible to keep the interior of our home bug free.
The space
Our home is single story and features a master bedroom with king bed. We have 4 bathrooms and five showers, including an outdoor shower. The guest house has a king bed and queen bed. The back bedroom has a full bath and a Murphy wall bed. The back room has a wall air conditioning unit.
Guest access
The house is handicap accessible, except for the swimming pool.
A housekeeper can be requested to clean during your stay, at your cost.
We do have an outdoor kitty that just needs fed once a day.
Notes
Atenas downtown is about a five minute drive or 35 minute walk. The neighborhood has a single road in and out and is hilly, but that is why we have the incredible views. Atenas has nice restaurants and grocery stores. We are about 2.5 hours from top hot springs, one hour from the beach and 45 minutes from amazing waterfalls. The international SJO airport is about 45 minutes away. October is the only very rainy month. March can be very windy!
Deep sea fishing about an hour away as well as surfing.
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
Air conditioning
TV
WiFi
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
First aid kit
Wheelchair accessible
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Fireplace
Home cinema
Toys
Gym
Sauna
BBQ
Pool
Hot tub
Balcony
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Covered porch / verandah
Kosher home
Meat-free kitchen
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Bikes
Camping gear
Kayak
Tennis court
Standup paddleboard
Travel Styles
Adventure
Family
Romantic
Sport and leisure
Relaxing
Eco
Village
Mountains
Remote
Tropical
Hiking
Cycling
Accessibility
Easy entrance
Single level
Wide hallways
Accessible bedroom
House rules
Unsuitable for infants under 2
Unsuitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Dog free
Carpet free
Smoke free
Fragrance free
Low allergen
Dates of Availability
Click on availability periods to see exchange types and descriptions.
AvailableNon-reciprocal Only
Neighbourhood
There are 29 lots in Lomas del Paraiso, which includes 28 homes. The neighborhood is made up of expats from around the world and some live here only part time and rent their homes when they are not here. You can see the neighborhood on Google Earth.
Getting to my home
If you are comfortable driving narrow hilly roads, then you may opt to rent a car. Otherwise, we can recommend private drivers for about $100 per day that can chauffeur you around to the sites and run any errands you require as well. Grocery stores will deliver as will most restaurants. The walk to town is beautiful and safe and a taxi back from town will cost about $5.00 usd.
Nearest airport
SJO Juan Santa Maria about 45 minutes
Getting around
You can rent a car if you feel comfortable driving on narrow, hilly roads. We do not recommend driving at night due to the narrow roads with drop offs and pot holes. Tour guides or private drivers can be hired to take you to places or taxis to and from town for about $5.50 USD round trip.
https://waterfallgardens.com/
La Paz is about 2 hrs from our home
https://www.natuwa.com/wildlife-sanctuary-costa-rica/
Great sanctuary if you love sloths, macaws, monkeys …about 1.5 hr away by car. We love to leave early and combine with El Encanto Waterfall in Esparza
https://quebuenlugar.com/lugares/catarata-el-encanto-esparza/?lang=enhttps://www.facebook.com/Catarata-el-Encanto-Esparza-384090698394530/
If you love coffee, be sure to visit Alsacia on the way to or from La Paz and Poas
http://www.starbuckscoffeefarm.com/en/
La Fortuna, a favorite destination has world class hot springs. Travel time can be close to 3 hrs through San Ramon, but pretty drive. Spend the night and check out day passes at:
https://www.tabacon.com/
or another favorite place
https://www.thespringscostarica.com/
Tabacon and The Springs Resort are quite expensive, but we usually find an affordable Airbnb or hotel and just purchase day passes …very worth it!
The Bajos del Toro area is another favorite with several waterfalls to explore. Be sure to take the road through Zarcero. Travel time to Bajos is about 1.5 hrs. It can be cool up there so take a light jacket.
While in the area check out Catarata Rio Agrio (see their Facebook page), Catartas Las Gemelas or Los Manantiales.
Another favorite waterfall about 1 hr away in Tacares is Los Chorros. Our friend, David, can take you or give you information about the place. Worth the visit if you don’t mind a 35 or so minute hike. Two great waterfalls in one place.
Poas Volcano is about 1.5 hrs away, but you must make reservations online before you go.
Nearest nice beach is Playa Mantas in Punta Leona about 1 hr away. Bumpy road to get there off main road, but good public parking if you get there early. There is a toll road so take coins if you can for the toll.
You can also go to Tortuga Island for a fun day trip from Los Sueños, only an hour away:
https://costacatcruises.com/
Some suggested Facebook Groups for info…
Recommended groups on Facebook Costa Rica Travel
Costa Rica Information and Tips
Costa Rica Resources for Expats and Tourists
Costa Rica Travelling Tips
Map of Approximate Location
People Like Us Local Guide
Meet for coffee or offer suggestions for itineraries and off the beaten path places to visit.
We stayed at Marcella’s home in the mountains of Atenas for 10nights. There were so many things to love about this vacation. First, the view is spectacular and we will miss waking to that peaceful morning light overlooking the mountains. Seemed to change and shift based on the weather and time of day making every day there even more special. Secondly, those hummingbirds were a favorite of ours. Watching them is just mesmerizing. We loved the town of Atenas and visited the cute little bagel shop multiple times. We went on a lot of excursions to Jaco like horseback riding, ATVs and ziplining too. The beach at Jaco is beautiful as well. Jaco is about an hour and a half
This trip was for the memory books and we feel so honored to have been able to enjoy such a treasure.
Marcella is a fabulous host and will message u with all the pertinent details plus is always available if you have any questions. You will not be disappointed in an exchange to Marcella’s lovely home on the hill.
Lisa, thanks for the kind comments. I truly hope you come back to Cost Rica and be able to explore the many other beautiful places that makes this country so special. We always try to do our best for our guests to have wonderful experience here.
Marcellas home was a one in a series of exchanges as new exchangers. My only regret is that I didn't get to meet Marcella personally. She is an amazing host, guiding us along, checking in frequently, and offering interesting tidbits about the area and animals.
What I loved most about Marcellas home was her beautiful gardens. Every morning and evening we would walk the property to see what new blooms had blossomed and what critters might be out.
Her home was beautiful as well. We enjoyed the colorful, local art and all the creature comforts of her home.
We had friends that were supposed to join us but were not able to. This changed our stay. Instead of driving everywhere for activities, we stayed local and just enjoyed the peaceful setting. It was perfect! Atenas is just big enough to provide everything we needed and plenty of restaurants for dining out.
If you have a chance to exchange with Marcella, I highly recommend you do.
We are just home from a 10-day trip to Marcella and Mike’s home in Atenas and ruminating on what a great experience it was! The home was so comfortable and the view so compelling we were happy to do some “slow travel” for a change. We took advantage of some of Marcella’s excellent suggestions of places to visit—the Choco-Tour San Mateo was particularly delightful, as was the Crema y Nata bakery downtown. We enjoyed a “language respite” (and the food) one lunchtime at the Polish European Restaurant as it’s known to be an English-speaking restaurant and none of the three of us have much Spanish. We rented a car and drove ourselves around—driving in Costa Rica is an adventure in itself!--but found we had to forgo the turtle hatching tours and some other highlights because we were not brave enough to drive after dark. This was our first trip to Costa Rica; we felt we were able to embrace and appreciate the country fully, and Marcella welcomed us warmly and made sure we had everything we needed for a very comfortable stay. Marcella is an excellent host, and we highly recommend this couple as exchange partners.
Thank you for the complimentary review. We appreciate that you were wonderful guests as well. The house was left nice and clean and it means a lot to us to have respectful guests.
Marcella's house is absolutely stunning! We did a simultaneous swap and I went to Costa Rica with my sister, brother in law and 1 year old niece. We had the best, most relaxing time. Marcella was a great communicator and we absolutely loved our swap to Atenas.
Marcella’s home is as beautiful as her pictures. Everything here is all you need to be in paradise. Marcella is great to work with. She had wonderful suggestions for sightseeing and activities. Her contacts for guides and transportation were all great to work with.
A wonderful globe hospitality stay with Marcella and mike
Wonderful house and amazing hosts who totally cared for us and didn’t mind us basically not moving at all once we arrived
Highly recommended house and people
Great home in Costa Rica and perfect to explore the central mountains. Marcella was a great host and we had the pleasure to meet Marcella and Mike on our last day.
We had the most amazing stay at Marcella & Mike’s home. Everything is so comfortable in their house. The outdoor seating, the beds, sofas,… their kitchen is very well equipped and perfect to cook anything. We loved the open plan living space!
The climate is perfect and not hot & sticky as many tropical places. The views are amazing to see the sunsets & sunrises, the fog and storms rolling in! Their garden is so lush and rich. We loved exploring and seeing all the different plants & flowers and the birds they attract. (The humming birds are simply stunning!)
There is also so much to do in the area. We visited waterfalls, volcanoes, national parks, the beach, picturesque small mountain towns, botanical gardens,…
We had the opportunity to share dinner with Marcella & Mike on the last day and they are very kind, funny and perfect hosts!
Thank you Marcella & Mike for a perfect trip!
Before arriving Marcella was super helpful with any questions we had, the great communication continued throughout the exchange, very much appreciated.
We truly had a great time in Marcella and Mike's beautiful home, the pool was also great. Got to storm watch as the rainstorms with thunder rolled in in the afternoon, fantastic site with the view in the background.
Great location for exploring the central valley, Poas volcano and Orotino areas. Further away is possible too, but we stayed local because we had other exchanges in the area coming up.
We've had a fantastic time here. Ended way too soon.
We highly recommended an exchange with Marcella and Mike, you won't be disappointed 🙂.
This was our first ever exchange and it could not hav been more perfect! Marcella was so kind and easy to talk to and get to know. Her home was INCREDIBLY beautiful and so comfortable. We all mentioned that we felt like we were living in a cloud! The views, the garden, the pool, it was stunning. We also really appreciated all of her suggestions and advice, she knows the area really well and we got to go on some really fun adventures that definitely made us feel like locals! I can't think of one thing that would have made this stay any better. I can't wait to host her and her family in my home in Idaho!
We had a wonderful stay at Marcella and Mike's home! It is impeccably clean, with a beautiful sweeping view, beautiful landscaping, and wonderful pool. And, we especially loved the hummingbirds and other great tropical birds we could watch and admire right from the yard.
Marcella was prompt to answer any questions we had and gave us great recommendations for day trips as well.
Their home is quite a gem!
Marcella’s home in Atenas was q wonderful! It’s spacious, clean, comfortable, wonderful views and a pool that we really enjoyed. She is also super easy to talk to and very kind. We had a very relaxing few days with good family-time. Thanks again!
Marcella’s home is wonderful! It’s spacious, and comfortable with every amenity you could need or want. The outside areas of the house are full of lovely plants, and the 180 view of the mountains from the patio and lap pool area is gorgeous. We explored the area a bit - lush countryside, nurseries, and good restaurants abound. There are plenty of day trips here - hikes, animal rescue parks, waterfalls, the beach and even the city if you like.
WOW! Marcella and Mikes place is absolutely gorgeous! A beautiful location, with stunning views, the pool was refreshing, the humming birds delightful. Marcella was very helpful with instructions and guidance for the area and getting settled in. Their home was immaculate and very comfortable. We really enjoyed feeding the birds, watering the garden and meeting kitty. The area is a great base for exploring and sightseeing. We managed to do a coffee farm tour, cacao farm tour, visit the Poas volcano, and many other sights. Definitively need your own transport to get about, and roads in Costa Rica even though distances are not great it takes longer due to the mountainous terrain. Thank you Marcella and Mike for a relaxing restful vacation.
Thank you, Louise. It was a privilege having you both stay at our home and we appreciate the kind words and we are really happy you enjoyed your stay. We hope you come back to Costa Rica again and explore all the great places here. We appreciate the immaculate condition we found our home after the exchange.
Marcella's house is beautiful, comfortable and designed so well to let beautiful breezes in. The outdoor shower is great, as is the pool and outdoor area. The gardens are so beautiful, and because of their location by a reserve, we saw more birds, animals, and butterflies just sitting on the deck than anywhere else we visited in Costa Rica! And the view was amazing. With clouds rolling in and out, the view changed constantly during the day ... we spent so much time at the house because it was great for relaxing but also seeing everything that is unique to Costa Rica! We also really enjoyed spending the last day with Marcella and Mike. They had gone out of their way to help us when we had a problem with our rental car during our trip, and we don't know how we would have figured it out without their generous help! We can't wait to see you again in New Zealand!
First off, let me just say WOW!!! I was so lucky to have an exchange with Marcella! Not only did I enjoy getting to know her during the year it took to complete the exchange but was fortunate to actually meet her in person the night we arrived at her amazing home! I was so happy we came one day early and were able to meet up in person before she flew out early the next day. We arrived after dark and boy was her home amazing in the dark, but when we woke in the morning with all the birds chirping and the beauty of our surroundings it was even more beautiful than we could ever imagine! The pictures just don't do it justice. The snacks, wine, chicken salad, and sandwiches she left for us were very thoughtful and much appreciated and came in handy since we had no time to get to the store coming in late the night before. Anyway, just want to do a shout-out to Marcella for letting me have the best exchange ever. What a gorgeous home and Costa Rica is amazing. I sure appreciated all the informative information she left for us, the books on Costa Rica, and answering all my endless questions because I failed to read her handy information sheet in the first place! Thank you, Marcella, for putting up with me being clueless. Sure enjoyed the kitty coming to visit morning and evening so was a pleasure to feed it. Also enjoyed the various animals that showed up unexpectedly. Such as the surprise visit from the Coati and all the beautiful humming birds along with my favorite, seeing the Toucans in the beautiful trees on her grounds. Her wonderful green thumb and decorative touch are on display throughout the house and grounds. The outdoor shower was spectacular and the house inside and out was so comfortable. I would recommend anyone coming to Costa Rica, use Marcella's house as a home base. We explored many parts of the country and always wanted to return home and relax and enjoy the view, pool, and gardens. Again WOW, WOW WOW!!!!!!!
Our exchange with Marcella was flawlessly smooth. She gave us suggestions on what to see and do and answered all of our questions promptly. Her home is a botanical garden with lots of plants and birds. The view over the valley and mountains was ever changing. The house itself was spacious and nicely decorated and had everything we needed. Costa Rica is a beautiful country with even more beautiful people. You will encounter smiles and everyone wishing you "Pura Vida". Thank you, Marcella.
We recently returned from our exchange at Marcella's absolutely fantastic home in Atenas, Costa Rica! Our stay was wonderful and I don't even know where to begin to express our gratitude that we got to stay in such a lovely place.
The views are fantastic - the home is located overlooking a beautiful valley where on sunny days the lush valleys sparkle and on rainy days, you can watch amazing lightning storms and clouds rolling through. My favorite place to spend the mornings was out on the magnificent patio watching the birds and butterflies and taking a dip in the pool. The home is comfortable, has every convenience, and really a perfect place to make your homebase.
We did a combination of relaxing at the home as well as exploring on day trips and one overnight trip further afield. We did rent a car, which isn't necessary as Marcella has contacts if you would like to hire a driver or use taxis, but I will say having our car did make it easier for us to get into town and see the sites.
Marcella and her husband were gracious hosts and beyond helpful when it came to planning our international adventure. We actually came in a day early, so we could meet up in person before they were off. I was so appreciative of all the communication, the thorough answers to my dozens of questions, and the recommendations for places to see.
It was a wonderful and easy exchange and we look forward to hosting them when they make their trip to Leadville!
Marcella has been very helpful before and throughout my stay in her beautiful home. She has given us lots of suggestions to visit nearby places and things to do.
We have been very comfortable and we really enjoyed being in this house and the town of Atenas during the time we spent here.
The scenery from the house is awesome as the house is surrounded by nature.
We kept in touch all the time to offer help and advice if needed.
I certainly would recommend swapping your house with them.
Marcella and friends were a joy to have in our home. Everything was treated as their own and they even left little gifts for us. I would host them again anytime.
Marcella and her guests were fantastic as my first PLU exchange. Marcella was very communicative, guiding me through the complete process. They also kept me updated with beautiful photos of my yard and many of the fun adventures they had and continue to have through PLU exchanges. I would be happy for a return visit and hope to keep up with their future travels. Thanks for such a successful exchange!
Marcella and Mike were wonderful guests. They left the home spotless. They are welcome back anytime.
Marcella and her guests treated our home as their own. We appreciated the care they gave during the entire process. You may want to check their property out on PLU which is close to San Jose.
Marcella and her party were great guests!
Thank you so much Marcella. We used Arturo, David and Benjamin for transportation and guided tours. They were all great to work with and we had amazing times with each one.
For your future swaps -
David is more cost affective, but loves to hear himself talk I think. The second day he wasn’t as talkative😏.
Arturo was a delight to be with and his vehicle was really nice. He was able to give us quite a bit of history regarding all the areas that we went to.
I think you know we enjoyed hanging out with Benjamin.
Marcella and John were perfect guests! Very communicative and responsive with questions and making arrangements. They left our home clean and tidy. We very much enjoyed having them stay with their friends in our home.
We had great communication before and during our home exchange with Marcella. From the beginning she reinforced that she would respect our home and prided herself on leaving the house clean. (She even watered our plants.) We came home to a spotless home, everthing in order and a thoughtful thank you letter. Marcella was an ideal guest.
We'd be happy to welcome Marcella and Mike back. They were very respectful and treated our home as if it were their own.
Marcella and company were perfect guests.
We were so happy to be able to host Marcella and her husband! You couldn't ask for better exchange partners and we are truly grateful we could return the hospitality for the opportunity to stay at their beautiful home in Costa Rica.
Marcella's communication is great - we had many great conversations, she kept us up-to-date on plans, and was full of great recommendations!
Not just great hosts, but were stellar houseguests! Clean, respectful, and treated it as their own. I really appreciated their flexibility and understanding when an appliance went out at the house during their stay. Marcella bent over backwards to ensure the home was left in better condition than when they arrived.
Cannot recommend enough :)
Marcella was a great guest!!! We didn’t meet in person but chatted frequently before and during her stay. She left the house in perfect condition for our next guests. We can’t wait to head to Costa Rica to stay at her place!
We were so happy to be able to host Marcella and her husband! You couldn't ask for better exchange partners and we are truly grateful we could return the hospitality for the opportunity to stay at their beautiful home in Costa Rica.
Marcella's communication is great - we had many great conversations, she kept us up-to-date on plans, and was full of great recommendations!
Not just great hosts, but were stellar houseguests! Clean, respectful, and treated it as their own. I really appreciated their flexibility and understanding when an appliance went out at the house during their stay. Marcella bent over backwards to ensure the home was left in better condition than when they arrived.
Cannot recommend enough :)
Well I'm happy to say Marcella and fam finally made it to my home. Wow, we had been messaging each other for almost a year now!
Funny how you get to know a person through messaging back and forth. I felt like I've known Marcella forever. I'm so glad she and her family were able to make it to Lake Travis and enjoy the lake. She was great about corresponding, keeping my plants watered, and very respectful to my "rules" I put upon them during their stay. Well....important rules of safety that is. (I do live on the lake and the thought of anyone getting hurt scares me).
My house was left in perfect order when I returned home and I appreciate our open communication with each other.
Thanks Marcella for being a great guest! I can't wait to visit your home in Costa Rica this August!
Marcella and her traveling party left our house in perfect condition. We highly recommend her as an exchange partner.
Marcella has been so wonderful to exchange with. Always communicating so well with us and showing so much care and kindness. They have also been so patient with us as we have tried to find a time that would work well for us to also trade with them.
**Updated: Our stay at Marcella's beautiful home could not have been more magical. No picture could do her home justice or explain the wonder and peace you will fill just spending time watching the clouds move by while sitting on her patio with her 'view from heaven' at Vista de Cielo. I wish we had more than a week so we could have spent every other day just watching God paint the sky as the clouds move by. Coming from a girl who likes to be on the move that is saying so much.
Costa Rica is such an incredible place to explore. Everywhere you turn is like a postcard. Marcella is the perfect host that did absolutely everything to accommodate us in our stay.
They also suggested their friend David as our tour guide and doing that made our trip 10x better and stress free. For nearly the same cost as a rental car he did so much more for us and took us places we would never have discovered on our own.
So grateful they also enjoyed their stay in wonderful Southern Utah. We would absolutely love to host Marcella again and definitely hope to return to her beautiful country and gorgeous home.
We spent a magical and memorable week in San Miguel with friends and cousin and her husband from Acapulco. We loved the location with the beautiful view and easy downhill walk to town. The house was well equipped with everything we needed to have a perfect stay. Karla replied to any questions and provided clear arrival instructions. We love San Miguel and feel so blessed to have spent a wonderful week in a beautiful home.
Thank you, Marcela. Karla and I are very happy you and your husband enjoyed your stay at Casa Amani!
Staying at Carol’s house was truly a great experience. We were met by her son, Michael, who was a wonderful source of information. He has a great dance studio next door. We never anticipate taking a dance lesson after 36 years of marriage, but he is an amazing, patient instructor and the type of dance is not intimidating whatsoever even for those of us with two left feet.
Carol’s home is decorated beautifully with art and is well equipped to cook meals at home.
We also loved the beautiful sunrises and enjoying the spectacular views from the house of the sea of Cortez. A beautiful beach is only a two minute drive. We literally had the beach to ourselves and snorkeled right off shore for hours. There are tons of beautiful fish and saw different types of eels too.
We highly recommend a stay at Carol’s house and a dance lesson too!
El Sargento is a gem of a paradise that during the early summer is pretty much empty of tourists since the area is known for world class kite surfing in the winter months.
We were able to see some incredible kite surfing our last day as the breeze picked up and all of a sudden a bunch of folks showed up to kite surf.
https://www.flowfluently.com/
Thank you Marcella for your wonderful review. We love our little paradise and sharing with others. Please come again and hope to visit Costa Rica and your home someday.
Kendra and her family were dream guests. They communicated effectively and left our home spotless. We hope they will return and highly recommend them as guests.
Lisa and her family were wonderful guests. She left our home in great condition and was understanding about problems with our gate clickers and an unfortunate encounter with a scorpion during her stay (it is the tropics). She and her family were respectful and communicated effectively throughout their stay.
Thank you Marcella! We had such an adventure at your lovely home. One for the memory books!
We just finished an absolutely wonderful exchange at Susan’s house. The home was exactly what we needed to relax and visit great beaches and do some birding. Susan was an excellent, responsive and generous host.
We would highly recommend a stay at her home and we hope we can return again. The wildlife in the area, especially in the backyard was like being in a real life nature show. The home had everything we needed to prepare meals and grocery stores and nearby restaurants for great outings.
April was a wonderful guest. She left our home very clean and communicated effectively before, during and after our exchange. We would welcome her back anytime and hope to visit Kanab one day.
We had such an amazing time at Lyn’s home. The communication before and during the exchange was excellent. The home was immaculate and perfectly located to visit the many wonderful nature reserves in the area as well as the area of West Palm Beach. The backyard is beautiful and a great space to relax. We also appreciated the proximity to grocery stores and many restaurants in the area. We particularly appreciated the suggestions by our host to visit the wetland reserves nearby. We saw so many amazing birds and animals. We would highly recommend a stay here and feel blessed to have stayed in such a nice home.
We truly enjoyed our stay at Richard’s home in Ojochal. The location is stunning adjacent to the jungle with views of the ocean. The sounds of so many birds in the morning accompanied by howler monkeys was wonderful. Karen, the property manager was very attentive to us as well. There are some great day trips from the house. The quiet and solitude are truly magical.
Judith and her party were absolutely great guests. They communicated effectively and left our house clean and as they found it. We highly recommend them as guests and were happy to have them visit our home.
Christy was a good guest and communicated effectively during her stay. We hope she and her family enjoyed their stay.
We had a great stay in Christy’s house very centrally located in Jackson. We were able to easily visit Teton National Park and eat at some great restaurants. The home was comfortable and we felt truly blessed to be able to visit the area. Christy provided great communication from beginning to end of the stay.
Jaime’s home in Island Park is truly a great place to escape and decompress. The home had everything you could possibly need for a wonderful stay. Jaime communicated effectively and offered clear arrival instructions. We enjoyed using the well stocked kitchen for cooking our meals and the hot tub in the cool evenings. The home is very large, but yet cozy and in the woods where you can go for walks and observe wildlife too. We ventured into Yellowstone for 3 nights and it was a pleasure to return to the home to relax the last two days of our stay here.
Jaime was a wonderful guest. She left our home clean and communicated effectively throughout her stay at our place. We would recommend her as a guest and would gladly welcome her again.
Sarah and her family were wonderful guests and we truly enjoyed their stay at our home. We shared the home and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them. We would recommend them to anyone as guests.
Annelies and her family were wonderful guests and we would welcome them back anytime. They left our home clean and communicated effectively throughout their stay. We appreciated the care they extended to our outdoor kitty.
We truly felt blessed to meet them as well on the last evening of their stay.
We just completed a great exchange in Canmore at Louise and Dave’s home. The home was perfectly appointed and located for us to explore all the beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Louise communicated effectively and was very helpful with great information about shopping and sightseeing. Their home was so nice to come to each day after sightseeing and hiking. We highly recommend them as hosts and their nice home.
Annelies and her family were great guests. They left our home clean and were effective communicators. We were blessed to meet them and remind us of why we love People Like Us. We would recommend them as guests and hosts.
Mike and Majbritt were amazing guests. They communicated regularly and left our house spotless. We would welcome them anytime again and highly recommend them as guests.
We just completed an amazing stay at Joel and Cindy’s beautiful home. We felt like we won the lottery being able to stay in their home so close to beautiful beaches and in such a lush community. We really enjoyed the indoor and outdoor spaces including a wonderful swimming pool.
The neighborhood includes mangroves with a great variety of birds and nice canopy lined roads to walk.
We highly recommend any opportunity to stay at this idyllic home near such beautiful beaches.
Mary and her family were great guests. They left our home nice and clean. Mary communicated effectively prior, during and during departure.
Ivan and Cindy were great guests. They communicated really well and left our house spotless. We would welcome them again anytime.
We had a really great time this past week in Loreto Bay. The home is impeccably decorated and has everything you need to enjoy this beautiful community of Loreto Bay. The home is perfectly situated a few steps away from a gorgeous beach with great snorkeling and really good restaurant, The Wine Cellar. We also had the chance to explore Mulege an hour and a half north with beautiful remote beaches and the magical town of Loreto. We highly recommend taking a tour of Isla Coronado to see the sea lions and white sand beach.
Ivan and Cindy were very responsive and communicated well with us throughout our stay. We would definitely come back to this great little gem of area in Baja California Sur.
Annabelle and her family were wonderful guests. She communicated effectively and left our home immaculate. We would welcome her again.
Jamie left our home very clean and we would welcome her back anytime. She communicated well with me.
We just spent an incredible 3 nights at Jamie’s home…well, technically next door, but the exchange was amazing! Her husband, Marco welcomed us and we stayed in a beautiful home with an amazing view and every amenity we needed. We loved walking down the hill on a road and seeing toucans and howler monkeys and other birds. The Arenal lake and volcano were amazing to see with the changing weather and views.
We also took a side trip to Piedra de Indio waterfall and had a blast with the owner of the property, Alejandro. We were then fed a great typical Costa Rican meal by his wife.
We highly recommend visiting this part of Costa Rica and loved every minute.
Louise and Dave were great guests! They communicated effectively with us and left our home spotless. We were very happy to host them and look forward to visiting their place summer 2023. We would highly recommend them as guests to anyone.
Thanks Marcella, it was such a privilege to enjoy your home, and can't wait to have you come stay next summer. This was our first experience of Costa Rica, and a great pleasure to meet you both.
Kate’s home is charming and located in such a great little town. We had driven through Leadville before but never had the chance to stay and explore the environs. We highly recommend Kay’s place as a base to explore beautiful lakes, hikes and see spectacular scenery. We hiked Turqouise Lake, The Hatchery, walked the Interlaken Trails, and had a blast renting Ebikes to do the 11.6 Mineral belt trail around Leadville. Kat communicated regularly and provided great suggestions for our stay. We also sampled some the best pizza ever at the Mountain Pie restaurant and visited the historical Silver Dollar Saloon.
We are so thankful for PLU and the opportunity to have met Kat and stayed at her great place.
Thank you Marcella! I'm so glad you enjoyed the home and got experience all that Leadville has to offer! It was such a pleasure having you as an exchange partner and I cannot say this enough, but we are forever grateful of our opportunity to stay at your home in Costa Rica.
And I second that High Mountain Pies has the BEST PIZZA!!
Andrew and Darci were wonderful guests. We had the opportunity to meet them before they left our home and loved hearing about their home country and getting to know them. We hope to be able to visit their side of the world in the next year or two.
Annelie was a great and gracious person to exchange with for our magical visit to Rocky Mountain National Park. Her home is perfectly situated in Estes Park and is roomy and with great views and all the necessary amenities for a great stay. We visited the RMNP every day of our stay and saw lots of wildlife in the park and even in the yard. It was our third visit to RMNP and this by far was the most memorable and fun, largely in part to having the opportunity to stay in such a great home. We highly recommend Annelie’s home and visiting the spectacularly beautiful RMNP.
Mary was a great guest in our home and welcome back anytime. We felt like we were long time friends as soon as we met. She was courteous, prompt in all correspondence and just great person!
Kat was a wonderful PLU experience. We thoroughly enjoyed her home and the location is perfect to explore Leadville and the area. Kat communicated effectively with us and recommended some wonderful hikes and things to do nearby. We really had a great time and highly recommend her place.
Mary’s home and Mary were amazing for our exchange. She was accommodating in allowing a few extra family members for us to enjoy a long overdue family get together. The lake was so fun for all of us to enjoy as well as the floating dock with seating and music. We truly had a wonderful time. The last day we had our friend, who lives in very nearby Austin, to take us to see great sites in Austin such as the Oasis Restaurant and the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue.
The home is at the end of the road so there is lots of privacy and it’s quiet too. Mary’s home is welcoming and perfect for relaxing and enjoying the views of the lake. We feel like we have made a great new friend in Mary and look forward to staying at her home again.
Betty was a really great guest. She left our home as she found it and would welcome her again anytime.
We had an amazing time at Betty’s home in Sarasota. We highly recommend visiting the area to explore beautiful beaches, botanical gardens the Chihuly museum in St Petersburg and array of great restaurants. Betty was wonderful to work with on the exchange and her home is located close to everything in a safe neighborhood. We hope to return to the area again.
What a great first PLU exchange! Season’s home was perfect for our party to explore all the great surrounding sites and do some fun hiking. The condo was clean, well equipped and in a very nice neighborhood near great restaurants and all other amenities. The three level condo is very spacious and the decor is very welcoming.
Season was a great host and communicated with us during and after our one week stay. We fell in love with the St George and Washington area and hope to return again soon.
Kat and Randy were truly wonderful guests. They left our home nice and clean and communicated with us before and during their stay. They also left a very thoughtful note and gift for us.
We hope our paths will cross again and we’re very pleased to meet them the night before we left them with our home to enjoy.
Rafael was a wonderful first PLU guest for our home in Costa Rica. We appreciate that he left our home nice and clean and was excellent communicating before, during and after the exchange. We look forward to visiting Barcelona soon.
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Carport and entrance to spare room on backside of house with Murphy wall bed and full bath.
Front part of house facing valley with wraparound patio
Driveway, carport and front of house
Panoramic view from front patio
Spare shower and bath adjacent to office and main living space
Living room, kitchen and dining…open floor plan.
Master bathroom
Master bedroom with king size bed
Large outdoor open air shower accessible from outside and master bathroom.
View from master bedroom
Master shower
Guest house or casita full bath and shower
Outdoor sink and kitchen
Separate guest house or casita with king bed and queen bed
Full bath and shower in spare room back of house with Murphy bed and has wall air conditioner
Extra room with Murphy wall bed and full bath
View of adjacent neighborhood
Backyard garden and flower garden
Regular visitors to our home area
Seasonal visitor, tanager
Breakfast guests, Aracari Toucans
Hummingbirds feeding all day long from May to November at the house
Termales del Bosque. Wonderful hot springs in the jungle about 2 hour drive from Atenas.
Congo or howler monkeys, with hidden baby, around Bajos del Toro, lots of waterfalls in area about 1.5 hr drive away from Atenas.
Poza azul in Bajos del Toro, easy, fun day trip about 1.5 hr drive. Catarata Rio Agrio is five minutes away with Dinoland park for the kids to feel immersed in Jurassic Park.
La Virgen, Sarapiqui, about 2 hr drive.
Scarlet Macaws at Punta Leona/Playa Mantas one hr drive from our home.
Catarata Río Agrio. An incredible place to visit with Dinoland in the Bajos del Toro area about 1.5 hr drive from Atenas.
Playa Mantas at Punta Leona an hour away from our home.